There is much in common between the two groups: The stiffly tidy haircuts. The conservative dark suits, white shirts and ties. The advanced age. The over-whelming maleness. The representation of a single ethnic group. Even the selection process for both groups is highly secretive and done behind closed doors.

Both groups also seem to have a thing for ridiculous over-sized show-chairs:

This brings back lots of childhood memories. I grew up with Protestant parents (with a Buddhist grandma to boot). Attended 12 years of Catholic schools spending lots of time with old Portuguese Jesuit priests. Been baptized as a Mormon with my dad and brothers at age of nine thanks to some very earnest young LDS missionaries. But I no longer practice in any kind of religion as I lost faith in organized religion over the years. My dad did mention the best he got out of Mormonism was kicking the habit of drinking and smoking. About the part of donating one-tenth of his income, not so much 🙂

I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between the modern day Chinese National Anthem video and the ones of early years. We’d likely to see endless shots of stern-faced men and women with unisex uniform marching in lockstep while the music plays on in the ones of old. This modern day version looks and sounds more like a tourism promotional video.

Piece by piece, I slowly figure you out Sundanze…but I would have never guessed you were a baptized (but now non-practicing) Mormon! Much of my extended family is Mormon and I’ve had enough of organized religion to last a lifetime… But still not the mix that you’ve had!